The tremendous recent growth of road traffic worldwide, combined with increasing environmental constraints, makes rapid progress more critical in reducing the fuel consumption of motor vehicles and improving their fuels. Requirements for the formulation of `ecofuels' include the following. The ecological balance of the proposed ecofuel, compared with existing fuels, must be calculated on the basis of a life cycle. The use of locally produced renewable fuels should be favoured. The technical performance and selling price of existing fuels must be equalled or improved. Worldwide experience has already confirmed the technical feasibility of biofuels production and use, especially for methanol and ethanol. especially for methanol and ethanol. Used as additives to petrol and diesel fuel, biofuels such as ethanol could produce more ecological reformulated fuels. Biofuels still need some public sector support, but have very nearly reached commercial viability. The current 5% target market share for biofuels is consistent with contemporary agricultural policies in France and the European Union. Advantages of biofuels include reducing the environmental impact of transport, by helping to formulate cleaner fuels, and reducing dependency on fossil fuel energy. The author recommends concentrating on the use of biofuels blended at low levels in fossil fuels.
Abstract